Pick one - Balfour,Robertson,Downs

[MaestroJay]

Who do you like of Balfour,Robertson and Downs?

[Black Sox]

Robertson and it's not even close. Skills are elite unlike the other two, and I'd gamble he's a top 10 closer rest of the way. Balfour might lose his job via trade and I don't think Downs keeps the job long term. If I had to rank them...

Robertson Balfour Downs

[Captain Hook]

Robertson and it's not even close. Skills are elite unlike the other two, and I'd gamble he's a top 10 closer rest of the way. Balfour might lose his job via trade and I don't think Downs keeps the job long term. If I had to rank them...

Except that Robertson doesn't have a gig by himself right now - he might have - he might split with Soriano - Girardi might go with hot hand or alternate - we just don't know

[Captain Hook]

Who do you like of Balfour,Robertson and Downs?

Today
Downs
Balfour
Robertson

Tomorrow? Who knows??
although today for ROS I would go
Balfour
Robertson
Downs

[Todd Zola]

I agree with Perry

To paraphrase a popular saying, possession 90% of the closer's job and right now, Downs has the strongest possession of the job.

This could change if Girardi comes out and says D-Rob is his man, but until then we don't know.

[Black Sox]

Robertson and it's not even close. Skills are elite unlike the other two, and I'd gamble he's a top 10 closer rest of the way. Balfour might lose his job via trade and I don't think Downs keeps the job long term. If I had to rank them...

Except that Robertson doesn't have a gig by himself right now - he might have - he might split with Soriano - Girardi might go with hot hand or alternate - we just don't know

Everything you said is correct, the problem is most of the time these decisions need to be made on the spot with incomplete information. I could totally see Girardi going with Soriano under the he's done it before, but when I have to guess, I always go with the better skills.

[MaestroJay]

My other 3 closers are - Marshall/Guerra/Casilla does that change who the better choice for me would be?

[Todd Zola]

Robertson and it's not even close. Skills are elite unlike the other two, and I'd gamble he's a top 10 closer rest of the way. Balfour might lose his job via trade and I don't think Downs keeps the job long term. If I had to rank them...

Except that Robertson doesn't have a gig by himself right now - he might have - he might split with Soriano - Girardi might go with hot hand or alternate - we just don't know

Everything you said is correct, the problem is most of the time these decisions need to be made on the spot with incomplete information. I could totally see Girardi going with Soriano under the he's done it before, but when I have to guess, I always go with the better skills.

This is exactly what we are (trying to) talk about in the Raund Table this week - perhaps i should pull the quotes from here

Opting for the job today versus skills is 100% league contextual and dependent on your degree of need.

[Black Sox]

It might for others, but not for me. With your list of closers it looks like u waited this year ( good strategy considering all the turn over ) so for me I'd try to hit the home run rather than just get by. I mean if Balfour & Downs are still available now they should be there later when we get a better idea for how saves play out in NY. However I doubt the Rivera owner in your league waits though.

[Todd Zola]

It might for others, but not for me. With your list of closers it looks like u waited this year ( good strategy considering all the turn over ) so for me I'd try to hit the home run rather than just get by. I mean if Balfour & Downs are still available now they should be there later when we get a better idea for how saves play out in NY. However I doubt the Rivera owner in your league waits though.

One could argue this is EXACTLY what I am talking about -- this is league contextual, based on the lower level closers there, etc.

In a league that uses waiver priority where you fall to the bottom, their level of desperation may be greater -- can they afford to wait until they are back on top of the priorities?

[MaestroJay]

i had/have Balfour I'm just looking at the 12.64 era 2.31 whip and 2 saves in the past 14 days as worrisome. Guerra is in similar shape, but I already missed the boat on Jansen there.

[deansdaddy]

Chris Sale

[MaestroJay]

I already had Sale so saves me that decision is this a permanent move or just lower work load on arm? Any concern long terms about the elbow that could influence what i need to do with Balfour? As right now my staff looks like this:

SP - Greinke,Bumgarner,Morrow,Garcia
RP - Balfour,Guerra,Sale,Marshall,Casilla

Do I ride this a week to see how long Sale lasts at closer, before i consider swapping Balfour for a SP or do I go ahead and make the switch now?

[AllstonRockCity]

i try to trade balfour as soon as he gets his next save. sale will keep that job. balfour has a good chance to lose his.

[Captain Hook]

I already had Sale so saves me that decision is this a permanent move or just lower work load on arm? Any concern long terms about the elbow that could influence what i need to do with Balfour? As right now my staff looks like this:

SP - Greinke,Bumgarner,Morrow,Garcia
RP - Balfour,Guerra,Sale,Marshall,Casilla

Do I ride this a week to see how long Sale lasts at closer, before i consider swapping Balfour for a SP or do I go ahead and make the switch now?

Stay as you are
Sale the closer for the rest of the year Unless he is injured

[MaestroJay]

SP available are:

Maholm,Alvarez,Smyly,Samardzija,Floyd,Blanton,Capuano,Jerome Williams,Kuroda,Bedard,Dempster,Parker,Cahill,Zambrano,Lowe

[Captain Hook]

SP available are:

Maholm,Alvarez,Smyly,Samardzija,Floyd,Blanton,Capuano,Jerome Williams,Kuroda,Bedard,Dempster,Parker,Cahill,Zambrano,Lowe

That's an awful lot of good SP to be available.............is there a league/format reason?

Of the group I especially like Parker and Smyly
BUT Capuano has two great outings in a row and also has a good home park; Williams has pitched very well and LAA should be winning more games; Samardzija will occassionally throw in a clunker but strikes out a lot of batters and I think has real upside; Dempster has also been very good but the club lost some of this Wins

[MaestroJay]

It's a 10 team H2H mixed.The problem obviously with 4 sp and 5 rp is dependent on the matchup I could be at a disadvantage volume wise, with no real slot for streaming that I can tell.Which is why I'm wondering if Sale is long term closer that i can afford moving a RP for a starter.Though save wise this week Axford at 1 has the same number as my Balfour,Marshall,Guerra,Casilla combined.

[Captain Hook]

It's a 10 team H2H mixed.The problem obviously with 4 sp and 5 rp is dependent on the matchup I could be at a disadvantage volume wise, with no real slot for streaming that I can tell.Which is why I'm wondering if Sale is long term closer that i can afford moving a RP for a starter.Though save wise this week Axford at 1 has the same number as my Balfour,Marshall,Guerra,Casilla combined.

Yes the White Sox think today that Sale is the long term closer - certainly presumed for the balance of the year

[MaestroJay]

Missed the boat on Capuano and Samardzija. Do you like Williams/Smyly/Parker over Balfour in H2H? Papelbon was dropped and i have #1 wire slot do you like Papelbon over one of Guerra/Marshall/Casilla?

[Captain Hook]

Missed the boat on Capuano and Samardzija. Do you like Williams/Smyly/Parker over Balfour in H2H? Papelbon was dropped and i have #1 wire slot do you like Papelbon over one of Guerra/Marshall/Casilla?

I like Papelbon over all of your current closers


(and not sure this/isn't the same thread but White Sox take the lead in the top of the 9th today - so go to the bottom of the 9th for pitching change and new pitcher is..........Hector Santiago

[MaestroJay]

I read somewhere they were resting Sale for the weekend (due to the arm, which is why he was moved to the closer role) and coming back Monday.

Who do you like switching to Papelbon and who do you like switching to 1 of J.Williams/Smyly/Parker of Guerra/Marshall/Balfour/Casilla?

[Captain Hook]

I read somewhere they were resting Sale for the weekend (due to the arm, which is why he was moved to the closer role) and coming back Monday.

Who do you like switching to Papelbon and who do you like switching to 1 of J.Williams/Smyly/Parker of Guerra/Marshall/Balfour/Casilla?

Weakest of those IMO is Marshall, then Balfour so I would switch one to Pap and discard the other for
1) Smyly
2) Parker
3) Williams

[MaestroJay]

Smyly was picked up already, Order of preference - Parker,Milone,Williams,Bedard,Alvarez,Arrieta?

[Captain Hook]

Smyly was picked up already, Order of preference - Parker,Milone,Williams,Bedard,Alvarez,Arrieta?

Parker
Williams
Alvarez
_______
Bedard (and get out the worry beads - more health than performance
Arrieta

[Todd Zola]

With so many viable options, I personally go Bedard and replace him when he gets hurt.

[da_big_kid_94]

With so many viable options, I personally go Bedard and replace him when he gets hurt.

Concur ... not many people know Bedard was a 4 on the Shandler scale last year (or a six on mine). As for Pappy ... well ... if someone dumped him, why shouldn't you take an early Christmas (how ironic given Todd's latest column, eh)?